Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, citing multiple sources, reports that Bills free agent CB Stephon Gilmore is hoping to exceed the $12.5 million per year Janoris Jenkins got from the Giants last year and the $14 million salary Seahawks CB Richard Sherman is making.
This isn’t the first we’ve heard about Gilmore setting a high asking price, as Sal Capaccio of WGR 550 previously reported that Gilmore is looking to be paid a top-five salary for the cornerback position, which would net him around $14 million or so per season.
Capaccio mentioned that the Bills actually extended Gilmore an offer of roughly $10.5 million annually last August, but talks didn’t extend beyond them making this offer.
One source tells Capaccio that if the Bills do not use their franchise tag on Gilmore, they’re likely to make him offer in the next month with the intention of pulling it once free agency is underway.
A few days ago, Brad Biggs reported that the Bears are expected to make a “strong big” to sign Gilmore and they have the cap space to make him this kind of offer if they want to.
Gilmore, 26, was taken with the No. 10 overall pick by the Bills back in 2012. He played out his rookie contract, but the Bills elected to pick up his fifth-year option for the 2016 season which paid him a guaranteed salary of $11 million.
Gilmore is now in a position to be one of the best available cornerbacks in this year’s free agent market.
In 2016, Gilmore appeared in 15 games and recorded 48 tackles, five interceptions, and 12 pass defenses for the Bills. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 61 cornerback out of 112 qualifying players.
We have him featured in our Top 100 – 2017 Free Agents list.
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